Frame 10: O'Sullivan struggles to get into the frame in a tactical battle between the two.

The Englishman pulls ahead in a low-scoring game before Higgins concedes.

Higgins 3-7 O'Sullivan (36-49)

Ronnie O'Sullivan in action

Frame 9: A cagey start to the first frame of the evening session but Higgins gets into his stride with a 60 break to put O'Sullivan on the back-foot.

The Essex Exocet begins his fight-back with a break of 49
but still needs a snooker with the blue, pink and black remaining.

Higgins sinks the blue and wins the frame to reduce the arrears.

Higgins 3-6 O'Sullivan (72-49)

Frame 8: Ronnie O'Sullivan goes into the interval 6-2 up after a break of 70 to emphasise his superiority over a tired-looking John Higgins.

Higgins 2-6 O'Sullivan (0-71)

Frame 7: Higgins's clearance looks to have inspired O'Sullivan to build a high break of his own.

But with a break of 48 under his belt he misses a blue into the middle pocket and gives Higgins the chance to hit back.

However, Higgins loses control of the cue ball on a red after going to the baulk end to pot the green and his break of 28 comes to an end.

O'Sullivan shows his expertise using the rest and clears up with a 42 break.

Higgins 2-5 O'Sullivan (28-90)

Frame 6: Higgins at last shows his Championship form with a steady but well-executed break of 135 - the highest of this year's final so far - to reduce the deficit.

It begins with a wonderful red and illustrates the Scotsman's tenacity as he shows the control that he had been lacking.

Higgins 2-4 O'Sullivan (135-0)

Frame 5: The mid-session interval looks to have affected both players as both miss early reds but the cue ball acts kindly for the two finalists.

Higgins gets the first red and then a green but still lacks the cue ball control that had been so evident in earlier games.

The catalogue of errors continues as O'Sullivan misses an easy pink and both players miss potable reds in the longest frame of the final so far.

Neither can build a decent break but O'Sullivan gives himself the perfect opportunity after potting a very good red into the centre of the pocket for a 34 break and the fifth frame.

Higgins 1-4 O'Sullivan (47-56)

John Higgins made vital errors

Frame 4: The Rocket makes a break of 47 and finishes with a safety shot.

Higgins still struggling to get into his stride gives O'Sullivan a half-chance with a long red and O'Sullivan produces the pot of the match so far and sets up a snooker.

The Scotsman makes an error and hits the black from behind the yellow. O'Sullivan gets seven points - and is back in again. In 42 minutes the first four frames are over and it's the first interval of the final.

Higgins 1-3 O'Sullivan (0-79)

Frame 3: O'Sullivan itching to get on the table as Higgins misses a long red. The Crucible rings out in applause as he splits the reds after potting the black on 37 points.

The 25-year-old's break ends on 81 and Higgins concedes the frame after just seven minutes.

Higgins 1-2 O'Sullivan (0-81)

Frame 2: Higgins undaunted in the second frame but makes a careless mistake while on a break of 47.

O'Sullivan goes for a red in the middle pocket but his shot canons off another red to bring Higgins back on to the table. A good red into the middle pocket puts Higgins 62 ahead with 75 remaining on the table.

Higgins stays in full control of the cue ball and after a break of 45, O'Sullivan concedes the frame.

Higgins 1-1 O'Sullivan (92-0)

Frame 1: After three safety shots a mistake by O'Sullivan lets in Higgins, who settles his nerves with a break of 37. However, the cue ball goes in off into the middle pocket as he attempts to pot a red.

It is all the encouragement the Englishman needs as he goes on to produce a break of 88 to clinch the first frame in just 12 minutes.